Costs of death records to increase

Wednesday

Aug 1, 2012 at 4:00 AM

Effective Aug. 1, the cost for death certificates will be $20 for the first copy and $13 for additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time.

Effective Aug. 1, the cost for death certificates will be $20 for the first copy and $13 for additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time. This is an increase from $17 for the first copy and $10 for additional copies.The change is a result of HB 12-1041 which directed the Office of Vital Records of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to begin providing electronic death records to vital records offices statewide. The improvement to the system allows customers to go to a vital records office in any county (or at the state office), and obtain a certified copy. Currently, the customer has to go to the vital records office in the county where the death was registered or the state office. The public will not be able to access death certificates electronically.The increased revenue will be used to defray system improvements.Death records are classified as confidential documents under Colorado Revised Statute § 25-2-117. Access is limited to those showing a direct and tangible interest, such as immediate family members. There were 33,048 deaths and 65,509 births reported in Colorado in 2011.